Fire protection device for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A fire protection device is mounted in an automobile and includes a switch responsive to a severe shock caused in an accident. An explosive cartridge is electrically connected to the switch for detonation and is mounted in a hollow body. A shaft having one end normally adjacent to the hollow portion of the body supports a switch blade normally connected in the ignition circuit and is adapted to engage a lever for operating a fire extinguisher. The shaft is slidably mounted and guided for movement between several columns. In response to a severe shock the explosion of the cartridge causes the shaft to move from its normal position thereby simultaneously opening the ignition circuit and actuating a fire extinguisher. All the elements but for the shock responsive switch are preferably mounted on a single support on the body of the automobile.

10/1945 Mathisen......................

6 Rue Roubo, Paris 1 1e;

FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1940 Australia...................... Primary Examiner-M Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg ZOO/61.45

Antoine Nobllio, 37 Blvd. de Reuilly, Paris 109 525 12c; Abraham Kotyk, 14 Avenue de la Republique, 94 Creteil, all of France 21 1 Appl. No. 887,624

[22] Filed Dec. 23, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [32] Priority Dec. 24,1968

France ABSTRACT: A fire protection device is mounted In an au- 180342 tomobile and includes a switch responsive to a severe shock caused in an accident. An explosive cartridge is electrically connected to the switch for detonation and is mounted in a [54] FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES hollow body. A shaft having one end normally adjacent to the hollow portion of the body. supports a switch blade normally connected in the ignition circuit and is adapted to engage a lever for operating a fire extinguisher. The shaft is slidably mounted and guided for movement between several columns. ln response to a severe shock the explosion of the cartridge causes the shaft to move from its normal position thereby simultaneously opening the ignition circuit and actuating a fire 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

xm H M l 60 069 2A 1 m L m 0 m .m U mm 1 l] 2 0 s 55 1 [1 26,19, 28; ZOO/61.45, 61.53

extinguisher. All the elements but for the shock responsive [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,925 10/1937 Denne..........................

switch are preferably mounted on a single support on the body of the automobile.

PAIENIEU maze ml SHEET 1 UP 2 SHEET 2 [IF 2 PATENTED 015828 I971 run-1 PROTECTION nsvrcn: son VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fire protection device for use in motor vehicles, in particular of the type including a shockresponsive element for actuating safety devices for preventing the spread and for. extinguishing a fire caused by a severe shock such as suffered in a collision.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art devices have not generally. been acceptedfor use in automobiles in that they have not been sufficiently. reliable and have been too expensive owing to their complicated structures. I

It is therefore a principal aim of the present device according to the invention to provide a fire protection device which is simple in structure and operation, reliable under'collision conditions and easily mounted and serviced.

his more specific aim to provide an actuating mechanism responsive to a shock-responsive means which actuates at least two safety devices, preferably an ignition cutout switch and a fire-extinguisher unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention consists in a fire protection device for use in motor vehicles including shock-responsive means, an explosive charge and a detonating means arranged so that in response to a severe shock, the shockresponsive means actuates the detonating means which in turn ignites the explosive charge, comprising an operating mechanism for opening the ignition circuit of the motor vehicle and for actuating a fire-extinguishing unit, including an operating member mounted for translation between a first position adjacent to the explosive charge and a second position remote therefrom in response to the pressure exerted thereon by gases released on explosion.

Preferably, the operating member includes a shaft having a portion which supports a switch blade normally connected in the ignition circuit for movement with the operating member, and wherein a lever for actuating the fire-extinguishing unit extends into the path of movement of the operating member so that the ignition circuit is opened and the fire-extinguishing unit is actuated substantially simultaneously.

Preferably, a plurality of guiding members depending from the body are arranged along the path of movement of the operating member in sliding engagement with a portion of the operating member for supporting and guiding the operating member, and a plate is disposed at the end of the guiding members remote from the body having a hole therein for receiving and guiding the operating member.

Preferably, the shock-responsive means is a shock-responsive switch mounted on an insulating support and includes a weighted contact supported on a coil spring secured to the insulating support by a securing member; means for adjusting the flexibility of the coil spring are provided including a sleeve adjustably positioned in the coil and secured inplace in the securing member.

Another aspect of the invention includes a fire-extinguishing unit for use in a fire protection device, comprising a cylinder for containing an extinguisher agent, a seal closing the container a plunger arranged adjacent to the seal for puncturing the seal, a lever pivotally mounted on the said unit and adapted to be operated by an operating member at one of its ends engageable with the plunger at its other end, a reinforcing plate mounted on the cylinder for supporting means for mounting the said unit on a support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages will become evident from the description of embodiments according to the invention presented by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of an embodiment of a fire preventing device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 s front elevation of the device shown in FIG. 2 showing the ignition cutout in section taken along the line III-Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a part of the device shown in FIG. 2 with the ignition switch shown in cross section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view analogous to that shown in FIG. 3 but where thesafety devices have been actuated;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT REferring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the fire preventing device includes a fire-extinguishingunit 10, a

shock-responsive means 12, and an actuating unit ll.

. The fire-extinguishing unit 10 and the actuating unit 11 are fixably mounted on a support member 15 formed as an angleiron which is adapted to be mounted in any convenient manner on the vehicle body or chassis. The shock-responsive means 12 on the other hand is mounted independently of the support member 15 on a mounting plate 16 formed of insulating material.

In order to mount the fire-extinguishing unit 10 on the support member 15, the cylinder is provided with a reinforcing plate 17 (see FIG. 5-in particular) soldered thereto at 18. A screw-threaded element 19 is secured to and extending from the reinforcing plate is adapted tothreadedly engaged in an aperture provided in the support. A nut 21 is screwed onto the threaded element 19 to assure the secure mounting of the fireextinguishing unit 10 on the support member 15.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 2, the actuating means 11 includes a hollow body 25 with a flanged end 26 located at its lower end, a threaded portion 27 extending from the upper end of the body and an abutment shoulder 28 located adjacent to the lower end of the threaded portion. The hollow body 25 also includes an axial passage 29; an explosive cartridge 30 is disposed at the upper end of the passage 29.

The body 25 extends through a hole 31 provided in the support member 15. A cap 32 has a threaded recess 27 for threadably engaging the threaded portion 27. The bottom surface of the cap cooperates with the abutment shoulder 28 to maintain the peripheral portion vof about the hole 31 therebetween when the cap 32 is fully screwed onto the portion 27.

The explosive cartridge 30 includes a threaded end portion 33 cooperating with a corresponding threaded portion 34in an interior partition in the cap 32, a cylindrical portion 35 and a plug 36 disposed in the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35. A detonating means formed as a magnesium filament 37 is mounted in the cartridge between the apex of the threaded portion 34 and the wall of the cylindrical portion. An explosive powder 38 is provided in the cylindrical portion and is adapted to be ignited by the violent burning of the magnesium filament.

Advantageously a dampening spring 39 is arranged to bear by one end against the lower end portion of cylindrical portion 35 and by its opposite end against a bearing surface of body 25. Spring 39 is effective in absorbing to a large extent the vibrations of the vehicle.

A small chamber 40 is disposed in the cap 32 above the interior partition. A further threaded recess 44 is provided between the. top of the cap 32 and the small chamber 40. A sleeve 43 of insulating material is threadedly engaged in the threaded recess 44 and includes an axial passage. A threaded shaft 42 extends through the axial passage and includes a contact stud 41 disposed in the small chamber 40 at its lower end and a terminal nut 45 at its other end. A conductor 47 is electrically connected to the shock-responsive switch means 12 and to the threaded shaft 42 by the terminal nut 45.

The flange 26 of the hollow body 28 supports two terminals diametrically disposed to one another as indicated generally by 49 and 50. The terminal is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the accumulator or battery of the vehicle and the other terminal 50 is electrically connected with the earth, for example the body of the vehicle.

An actuating means 51 is disposed below the lower surface of the flanged end 26. The actuating means 51 includes a shaft 52 having an upper end portion 60, an upper portion 54 having a larger diameter, and a lower portion 56 having a smaller diameter and an abutment shoulder defining the end of the upper portion 54 and the beginning of the lower portion 56.

A slot 57 is diametrically disposed in the upper portion 54 in which is disposed a bridging contact blade 55 which is maintained therein by suitable securing means such as the pin 58. A cover 61 is secured to the end of the lower portion of the 56 by a screw 62. Four vertical parallel columns 63 provide guiding means and depend from the flanged end 26 to an abutment plate 64. As shown in FIG. 4, the columns 63 are in sliding engagement with the upper portion 54 for supporting and guiding the shaft. The abutment plate 64 is provided with a hole, the lower portion 56 passes through the hole and is slidably engageable therewith.

The bridging contact blade 55 is normally in engagement with the stationary contact clips 64 and 65 which are supported by the terminals 49 and 50 respectively. The upper end 60 is normally in contact with the bottom surface of the flanged end 26. The shaft 52 is maintained in alignment by the columns 64 in slideable engagement with the upper portion 54 and by the guiding hole in the abutment plate in slidable engagement with the lower portion 56.

The cover 61 is provided with resilient faces having detents 67 and 68 engaging with corresponding grooves provided in the sides of the flanged end 26. The cover 61 is therefore normally in gripping engagement with the end flange 26 as shown in FIG. 3, and maintained in position with respect thereto. The screw 62 which mounts the casing on the lower portion of the shaft is normally in engagement with the lever 70 pivotally mounted on a yoke 69 integral with and depending from the lower end of the lever 70 opposite the portion normally in engagement with the screw 62, the lever 70 is normally in engagement with a plunger adapted to puncture the fire-extinguishing cylinder. A spring depends from the yoke and is substantially parallel to the plunger and includes pair of gripping portions for engaging the extreme end of the lever 70 and maintaining the lever in engagement with the plunger in the position shown in FIG. 2 and the position shown in FIG. 5, respectively.

The axial passage between the plug 36 and the upper end of the shaft 70 forms a chamber 71.

The shock-responsive switch means 12 is adapted to be disposed on any portion of the vehicle and includes an insulatingsupport base 75, and a body including a lower truncated conical portion and upper cylindrical portion of the vehicle and includes an insulating support base 75, and a body including a lower truncated conical portion, an upper cylindrical portion and a cover 77 disposed on the cylindrical portion. The body 76 is fixed to the insulating base 16 means of screws 78.

A truncated conical threaded aperture 79 is provided in the insulating base 75. A securing element 80 including a truncated conical threaded upper portion for cooperation with the threaded aperture 79, a first recess in the upper portion, a lower shoulder portion with a second recess is disposed in the insulating base 75 for supporting a shock-responsive contact member. The shock-responsive contact member includes a weighted contact stud 83, a coil spring 82 for supporting the contact stud 83 and disposed between the contact stud and the first recess.

MEans are provided for adjusting the flexibility of the contact member including a sleeve 84 having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the coil spring and an axial passage. A conductor 85 connected at one end to the contact stud 83 and extending through the coil spring and the passage in the sleeve. The sleeve 84 being adjustably positioned in the lower recess and including a plurality of adjustment indicia G. A set screw is radially disposed in the lower portion of the securing member for fixing the position of the sleeve relative thereto. As can readily be seen from FIG. 2, by raising the sleeve 84 the coil spring 82 is stiffened; and by lowering the sleeve 84 the coil spring is made more flexible thereby allowing an adjustment of the degree of shock necessary to actuate the shock-responsive switch means 12.

The operation of the fire protection device is as follows:

In the case of a collision resulting in a severe shock, the weighted contact stud 83, of relatively large mass, is accelerated by inertia into contact with the metal body 76 thereby conducting current through the conductor 47, the threaded shaft 42, the contact 41, to detonating means formed as a magnesium filament 37. The filament 37 is instantaneously lit and burns violently to ignite the explosive powder in the lower portion of the cylinder. The gas released by the explosion exerts a great gas pressure in the cartridge 30 which ejects the plug 36 from the bottom of the cylinder into the chamber 71. And in turn the gas exerts a great pressure against top surface of the upper end portion 60 to bring in motion the actuating mechanism.

As can be clearly seen by FIG. 5, the actuating mechanism assures, the simultaneous action of the two safety devices provided therewith. The actuating member including the upper end portion 60, the shaft 52 including the upper and lower portions 54 and 56, and the screw 62 moves downwardly under the force of the gas pressure exerted from above and carries with it the moveable bridging contact 55 thereby taking the latter out of contact with the contact clips 64 and 65, opening the ignition circuit and cutting off the engine. At the lower end of the shaft 52, the screw 62 exerts a downward force on one end of the lever 70 thereby pivoting the latter about the pivot pin and urging the otherend of the lever 70 upwards and with it the plunger which in turn punctures a sealing element (not shown) in the fire-extinguishing unit and frees the extinguishing agent. The fire-extinguishing unit is preferably arranged adjacent to the carburetor in order to prevent the spread of fire to this most vulnerable and dangerous element. 6

Once the device has been operated, it is necessary to replace the fireextinguishing cylinder. As indicated above, the cylinder is rigidly supported on the support 15, it is easily removed by first unscrewing the nut 21. A new or recharged cylinder can then be secured into position on the support. Owing to the removable cap 32, the explosive cartridge can be easily removed and replaced. Finally, the ignition circuit is made operative by returning the actuating mechanism to its normal position as shown in FIG. 3. It is noted that the casing 61 provides a means protecting the contacts of the switch and the operating mechanism in its normal or first position. It is quite evident that the device is easily and quickly returned to its normal position ready to be called upon if needed. Further, by the present arrangement the extinguishing cylinder can be easily and quickly removed to be checked or recharged in the same manner.

A modification is shown in FIG. 6 which differs from the embodiment discussed hereinabove merely by the direct mounting of the shock-responsive switch means on the support 15.

The invention is not limited to any of the details described with regard to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings which have been made merely by way of example.

We claim:

1. In a fire protection device for use in motor vehicles having an ignition circuit including a shock-responsive means, an explosive charge and a detonating means operatively connected to the shock-responsive means for igniting the explosive charge in response to a severe shock comprising: an operating mechanism for opening the ignition circuit of the motor vehicle and for actuating a fire-extinguishing unit including an operating member mounted for translation between a first position adjacent to the explosive charge and a second position remote therefrom, and adapted to be driven from its first position .to its second position to open the ignition circuit and to actuate the fire-extinguishing unit by the detonation of the explosive charge in response to a severe shock.

.2. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member includes a shaft having a portion which supports for movement therewith a switch normally connected in the ignition circuit, and wherein a lever for actuating the fire-extinguishing unit extends into the path of movement of the operating member so that the switch is opened and the lever is actuated by the operating member substantially simultaneously.

3. A fire protection device according to claim 2, further comprising a hollow body member, said member supporting a cartridge therein, and wherein the detonating means and the explosive are supported in the cartridge.

4. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the switch blade is a bridging contact, a pair of terminal contact members disposed on the body member and normally in contact with the ends of the switch blade.

5. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein means are provided for the shaft for supporting and guiding it between the first and second position including columns depending from the body and a plate being disposed on the columns remote from the body, ans wherein the shaft includes a first portion slidably engageable with the columns and a second portion extending through an aperture provided in said plate for guiding the later.

6. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a cap threadedly secured to the body member for supporting a terminal electrically connected to the shockresponsive means, and the body member including a threaded portion for supporting the cartridge having a corresponding threaded portion in engagement therewith.

7. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a support plate is provided for supporting the fire-extinguishing unit, the body and cap, the actuating mechanism and the ignition cutout switch and an independent support for supporting the shock-responsive means.

8. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fire-extinguishing unit, the body and cap, the actuating mechanism, the ignition cutout switch and the shock-responsive means are supported on a single support.

9. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shock-responsive means is an inertia switch mounted on an insulating support, and includes a weighted contact supported a coil spring which is secured to the insulating support by a securing member and adapted to engage a conductive body disposed thereabout in response to a severe shock.

10. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein means for adjusting the flexibility of the coil spring includes a sleeve adjustably positioned in the coil of the spring and secured in place in the securing member.

11. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cover for enclosing the operating mechanism is mounted on the operating member and is in resilient engagement with the body member in the first position.

12. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fireextinguishing unit includes a cylinder having a reinforcing plate disposed thereon for supporting a securing means for mounting said unit on the support member. 

1. In a fire protection device for use in motor vehicles having an ignition circuit including a shock-responsive means, an explosive charge and a detonating means operatively connected to the shock-responsive means for igniting the explosive charge in response to a severe shock comprising: an operating mechanism for opening the ignition circuit of the motor vehicle and for actuating a fire-extinguishing unit including an operating member mounted for translation between a first position adjacent to the explosive charge and a second position remote therefrom, and adapted to be driven from its first position to its second position to open the ignition circuit and to actuate the fireextinguishing unit by the detonation of the explosive charge in response to a severe shock.
 2. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member includes a shaft having a portion which supports for movement therewith a switch normally connected in the ignition circuit, and wherein a lever for actuating the fire-extinguishing unit extends into the path of movement of the operating member so that the switch is opened and the lever is actuated by the operating member substantially simultaneously.
 3. A fire protection device according to claim 2, further comprising a hollow body member, said member supporting a cartridge therein, and wherein the detonating means and the explosive are supported in the cartridge.
 4. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the switch blade is a bridging contact, a pair of terminal contact members disposed on the body member and normally in contact with the ends of the switch blade.
 5. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein means are provided for the shaft for supporting and guiding it between the first and second position including columns depending from the body and a plate being disposed on the columns remote from the body, and wherein the shaft includes a first portion slidably engageable with the columns and a second portion extending through an aperture provided in said plate for guiding the later.
 6. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a cap threadedly secured to the body member for supporting a terminal electrically connected to the shock-responsive means, and the body member including a threaded portion for supporting the cartridge having a corresponding threaded portion in engagement therewith.
 7. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a support plate is provided for supporting the fire-extinguishing unit, the body and cap, the actuating mechanism and the ignition cut out switch and an independent support for supporting the shock-responsive means.
 8. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fire-extinguishing unit, the body and cap, the actuating mechanism, the ignition cut out switch and the shock-responsive means are supported on a single support.
 9. A fire protection device as cLaimed in claim 2, wherein the shock-responsive means is an inertia switch mounted on an insulating support, and includes a weighted contact supported a coil spring which is secured to the insulating support by a securing member and adapted to engage a conductive body disposed thereabout in response to a severe shock.
 10. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein means for adjusting the flexibility of the coil spring includes a sleeve adjustably positioned in the coil of the spring and secured in place in the securing member.
 11. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cover for enclosing the operating mechanism is mounted on the operating member and is in resilient engagement with the body member in the first position.
 12. A fire protection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fire-extinguishing unit includes a cylinder having a reinforcing plate disposed thereon for supporting a securing means for mounting said unit on the support member. 